Journal of Advanced Practices in Nursing

Demand for Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives and Associated Factors among Women Accessing Family Planning Service in ARFH Model Clinic Ibadan, South West Nigeria

Abstract

Adako O, Okunfulure FO

Inability of clients to pay as low as $ 1.2 to initiate a Family Planning method has contributed to the country’s low Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) in Nigeria. Until the adoption of free family planning policy in Nigeria, women had to pay fees ranging from about $1 to $3. Considering the fact that abortion is illegal in Nigeria, coupled with the fact that illegal abortion can be expensive, many of these women ended up with unintended pregnancies. The adoption of the policy on free family planning services to women by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2012 was therefore received positively by civil society organisations. This paper intends to highlight the position before and after the adoption of this policy, by using the ARFH Model Clinic statistics as a primary guideline. In addition, the paper will provide an analysis of how this policy can be better implemented. Findings from this study show that free family planning service influences choice of modern contraceptives as demand for implanon increased when provided free compared to other modern methods. It is therefore, recommended that family planning services for all methods in all public health facilities should be provided free.